^>. 


^... 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


7- 


C^ 


A 


% 


f/. 


)^ 


LL 

1.25 


m 

u 


2.0 


U    IIJIII.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


2»  WEST  MAIN  STRICT 

Wi^Rf  TER,  N  Y.  Mi.SO 

(716)  k..i  -,503 


,\ 


^ 


\\ 


'^..1f 


Ci^ 


'^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  b.uliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagee 

□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculde 


D 


Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I — I    Coloured  maps/ 


D 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illusirations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

□    Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shaoows  or  distortion 
^1    along  interior  margin/ 


Q 


D 


D 


La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires; 


L'lnstitut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


I — I    Pages  damaged/ 


Pages  endommag6es 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restauries  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d^colordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqu6es 


n    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tach^es 


[A 


Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


D 
D 
D 


Quality  in6gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  matdriel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieliement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  fapon  h 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmsd  her*  ha*  b««n  r«produc«d  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


L'axamplaira  filmi  f ut  raproduit  grAca  A  la 
gAnAroaiti  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
posslbia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Las  imagas  auivantas  ont  it*  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  l'axamplaira  filmA.  at  »n 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covors  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  witn  &  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  srjpropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printed  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprassion. 


Las  axamplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvertura  an 
papiar  ast  imprimis  sont  filmis  an  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darniira  paga  qui  comporta  tna  amprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autras  axamplairas 
originaux  sont  filmis  an  commandant  par  la 
pramiira  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporta  una  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END  "). 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  ie 
cas:  la  symbola  — ^-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  Ie 
symbols  y  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frrmes  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illt  strata  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  itre 
filmis  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  la  nombre 
d'imagas  nAcessaire.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthoda. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Mf 


IN 


SPEECH 


OP 


MR.  KENNEDY,  OF  INDIANA, 


ON   THE 


OREGON    QUESTION 


DELIVERED 


IN    THE   HOUSE   OF   REPRESENT  ATI  VESy 


JANUARY   10,   1846. 


WASHINGTON: 

PRINTBD  AT  THE  UNION  OFJ^ICE. 

1846. 


Kir 


4  :;'i        'i    S    ;■%    .'■". 

»    •.'      .J,   .-i    ,f    .J 


r^,. 


the  ret 


-Mr.  KEN] 

*  Mr.  Chair 

'  7»ith  the  s 
w  believe 

li'a;,ion   of  v 

rion  ha7<»,  I 
I7  lead  h 
'jiiftstion  of 
es.-i  resolut 
id  treaty  rr, 

2^  giving  tvv 
■)>'o^aie  it. 
lloc  do  v,/hat 
•fiv  party,  w 
rnohinj;  0 
I'.d  dcso'.atii 
'./^^Wi^  a  wf 
r>:  hclievfi  t 
5!  questior 
Bntba  tlii 
i«f  ?o  far  a: 
those  wh( 
wafte  or  wai 
rmined  it  s 

'eST'')!"!  'CRiO 

t  prRclud* 

result 

f  the  territi 

loo  lon^  slei 

fci  pe.#.e,     ^ 

i»iftV»red  En^ 

fcrritor/  in 

Ibosea,  for  a 

•eaceable   ji 

that  our  nee 

•rrength  anc 

fhrt  masses- 

Iw?'^  not  CO 

«7  treaties 

,<lmind,  ancf 

■'lot  while  th 

^frtfe,  they  m 

"^  Ivy  drplomc 

'     Now  the 


'and  arguiT 
I  come  satisf 


'^ . 


i 


SPEECH. 


the  re3cluiio?i  giving  fks  twelve  inonlhs*  notice  far  the  termr.atlon  of  the 
joint  occupancy  of  the  Oregon  territory. 


Me.  KENNEDY  addressid  the  committee  as  fol- 

'  Mr.  Chairman:  From  the  course  this  debate  has 

kf.f),  should  a  spectator  enter  this  hall,  unacquaint- 

°  7»ith  the  subject  that  gave  rise  to  it,  lie  would  be 

to  believe  thai  the   question  pending  was  a  dec- 

auon   of  war  (igainst  txrear    Britain.      All   who 

apr«  ari^jed  against  the   re   ilution.s  under  consido- 

prion  hiivf.   declared  that   t(.    >nm  them  would  inev- 

hly  i»ad  to  war.     Now,  1     -bmit  that  this  is  not 

'I'lftstion  of  peace  or  war.     '1 ,  ';  very  treaty  which 

«3C  r«3olations  propose  to  ennui,   provides  that 

id  treaty  r.,ay  at  anytime  beannulled  ijy  either  par- 

2',  apvinsr  twelve  months'  notice  of  their  intention  to 
^i'iipte  it.  And  has  it  come  to  this,  that  we  can- 
h'it  do  wha".  the  treaty  stipulates  niaj/be  done  by  ei- 
hfi.r  party,  without  incurring  the  charge  of  wicked- 
jr  rn:?hino;  our  country,  unprepared,  into  a  needless 
r><\  de.wlating  war?  Sir,  I  hurl  back  this  charge  of 
U'Akiri^  a  war  upon  those  who  make  it,  for  I  will 
lo:  believe  that  war  rr.iist  necessarily  grov/  out  of 
ftia  rjUf^stion. 

P.iub:^  tlii^:  iv  it  may,  so  far  ns  !    am  concerned, 
tnrt  ST)  fcv  HA  I  urider.stand  the  feeling  and  o])inionp 
•f  those  whom  I  represent,  this  if!   not  a  question  of 
er,c^,  or  war,  but  a  question  of  right,  and  I  am  de- 
rmined  it  shall  be  so  treated.  Does  the  territory  of 
'e?on  belong  to  the  United  States?    If  it  docs,  ftiat 
ct;  prftcludes;  the  question  whetlier   peace  or   war 
frvy  result  from  our  action  or  from  the  occupation 
kf  'he  territory.     But  it  has  been  said  that  we  have 
jho  long  .■slept  upon  our  rights  to  assert  them  now 
Jn  pe.#e.    That  does  not  result  from  our  having 
ihjfi'ered  England  jointly  tc  occupy  this  magnificent 
territory  in  common  with  us,  for  commercial  pur- 
ses, for  a  quarter  of  a  century.    This  long  and 
»ceable  ,oint  tenancy  has  resulted  from  the  fact 
iat  our  people  were  not  made  acquainted  with  the 
•trength  and  clearness  of  our  title.    Thousands  of 
th<*  ma-^se.-; — the  bone  and  sinew  of  our  country — 
Iw7(»  not  conned  over  all  the  old  recc.us  and  mus- 
ty  treaties   in    which   our  recora   of  title  is  to  be 
,^und,  and  learned  therefronr!   its  nature  or  extent; 
-fcwt  while  they  were  in  doubt  or  ignorance  as  to  our 

*  title,  they  were  willing  '.o  see  what  could  be  done 
t  Ivy  drplomacy. 

•  Now  the  case  is  altered,  and  we  have,  by  proofs 
t  wad  argumcntfl  that  have  been  laid  liefore  us,  be- 
f  come  satisfi^J  that  our  title"  to  the  whole  of  O/egon, 


from  42°  to  M°4C'  north  latitude,' is  "clear  and  un- 
questionable." 

I  call  upon  gentlemen  from  the  South,  who  go 
against  the  notice,  to  recall  the  irresialible  argu- 
ments made,  and  the  clear  and  inextinguishable 
light  which  has  been  shed  upon  our  title  by  their 
"great  statesman,"  before  they  ask  us  to  surrender 
oiie  inch  of  the  Oregon  territory,  whi.h  he  hiis'  so 
conclusiv«:ly  shown  to  be  ours.  Are  we  to  read 
the  masterly  arguments  of  John  C.  Calhoun  and 
James  Buchanan,  which  have  made  our  title  to  the 
v.hole  of  Oregon  as  clear  us  sunlight,  only  for  the 
purpose  of  making  our  surrender  of  what  they  have 
siiown  clearly  to  be  ours  the  more  disgraceful.' 

We  of  the  West  are  not  ''bookish"  men.  What, 
Utile  education  we  liave  we  received  after  the  labor 
of  the  day  had  been  done,  in  the  school  of  adversi- 
ty, in  the  Far  West,  iind  almost  on  the  verge  of 
civilization,  where  our  .itruggles  have  been  with  the 
Indian,  and  our  wrestling  with  the  bear — now  no 
common  (jccurrence.  We  have,  therefore,  left  ir. 
to  our  agents  to  settle  the  question  to  whom,  by  ihc 
record,  Oregon  belongs.  Thi.s  they  have  done,  and 
done  well.  Our  part  of  the  task,  whjch  is  to  maintain 
and  defend  our  rights,  is  now  to  commence;  and  by 
the  remembrance  of  the  deed.s  of  our  fathers,  and 
the  strong  aiiection  we  cherish  for  our  wildcrnes.s 
homes,  we  will  detcnd  them  or  perish  in  the  at- 
tempt; we  do  not  want  war,  and  you  slander  lu^ 
when  you  say  that  our  hands  are  itching  to  grasp 
the  stee!  of  strife,  and  our  hearts  panlmg  for  the 
deadly  conflict.  No  people  more  highly  appreciate 
or  value  peace  and  brotherly  love,  that  should  bind 
in  one  unbroken  chain  all  the  families  of  man,  than 
the  people  of  the  West.  We  know  that  our  free 
institutions  flourish  best  in  the  mild  and  genial  at- 
mosphere of  pence;  but,  when  it  comes  to  thi  sur- 
render of  the  patrimony  of  our  fathers — to  receding 
from,  or  yielding  up  our  just  rights  upon  our  own 
soil,  then,  we  say,  peace  can  no  longer  be  honorap 
ble;  and  we  shall  not  hesitate  when  it  comes  to  the 
question  of  dishonorable  peace,  or  honmaiile  war. 

The  honorable  member  from  South  Carolina  |Mr. 
RhettJ  has  warned  us  against  the  consequences 
which  may  follow  a  combination  of  the  European 
monarchies  against  what  they  may  please  to  call  an 
eflTort  on  our  part  to  push  the  principles  of  our  free 
government  beyond  the  boundaries  thereof.  Sir,  we 
are  no  propagandists.     We  do  not  wish  to  spread 


-t.  *  :■  0 .1 J  h 


ovir  principles  by  conquest;  we  deairc  to  force  our 
UMtitutions  upon  no  people  under  the  auii,  however 
much  we  might  be  pleased  to  aee  all  mankind,  not 
only  appreciating,  but  enjoying  their  inestimable 
biessingB.  But  when  it  contes  to  this,  whether  we 
shall  plant  them  upon  our  own  aoil,  and  within  our 
wfidoubted  territorial  limits,  it  is  quite  another  ques- 
Uon;  in  such  a  case,  we  cannot  stop  to  count  the 
cost,  or  look  at  consequences. 

Another  honorable  gentleman  from  Virgiriia  [Mr. 
Hunter]  has  told  us  that  "before  we  succeeded  in 
wresting  Oregon  from  England  by  conquest,  we 
must  prepare  to  chu.se  the  Britii^h  lion  around  the 
world  in  his  blood  and  oluver."  Sir,  1  have  no  dis- 
position to  engage  in  the  cha.-c  of  such  a  beast,  but 
thi.si  I  will  say,  that  if  the  British,  or  any  other  lion, 
lays  down  in  our  ))uth,  whilst  we  are  peaceably  pur- 
swing  our  own  business,  witliin  our  own  territory, 
that  he  will  be  soon  be  chased  from  that  luir. 

Conquest  is  not  our  ol  ject,  and  surrendering  our 
territory  is  still  farther  from  it.  If  any  gentleman 
here,  be  he  from  the  North  or  the  South,  tlie  East  or 
the  West,  who  believes  our  title  to  Oregon  is  not  good, 
fee  shall  be  excused  from  voting  for  this  notice;  but 
the  man  that  iell.s  m*;  that  he  believes  that  Oregon  is 
ours,  and  stili  shrinks  from  assertmg  our  exclusive 
rights  there,  will  allow  me,  in  all  kindness,  to  tell 
him  to  look  to  it,  that  he  does  not  place  himself  in 
an  attitude  that  will  not  only  make  him  nncurrcnt 
coin  among  hisconstituente,  but  neglect  a  duty,  the 
non-performance  of  which  he  will  deeply  regret  du- 
ring the  remainder  of  his  life. 

It"  Oregon  he  ours,  is  ii  not  a  blasting,  withering 
siiame  that  the  cross  of  St.  George  should  now  be 
doaling  over  any  portion  of  it  f 

[Here  Mr.  Simms,  of  Missouri,  exclainieJ  aloud — 
"Yes,  it  is  a  burning  shame,  and  it  will  blister  our 
foreheads,  like  the  mark  set  by  God  upon  Cain."] 

And  are  wo  to  bear  this  reproach — and  shall  a 
brai)d  like  this  be  burnt  mto  the  foreheads  of  the  sons 
of  the  "Old  Thirteen,"  because,  if  we  attempt  to 
reraove  it,  we  may  provoke  a  war.-  Suppo;^  your 
fathers,  of  glorious  revolution.-iry  memory,  had 
been  thus  timid — suppo.'Je  that  before  tliey  com- 
menced that  struggle  for  liberty,  they  had,  us  gen- 
tlemen say,  counted  the  cost,  had  "numbered  the 
ships  and  liayonets  of  their  insolent  oppressors, 
where  would  you  have  been,  Mr.  Chairman  ?  In- 
stead of  presiding,  as  you  nou  do,  over  an  Ameri- 
can Congress,  you  would  l.ave  been  a  vassal  of  the 
British  crown. 

And  has  the  blood  oftho.se  me-.t  which  now  Hows 
through  our  veins  become  so  pale — has  it  degene- 
rated 80  soon  that  in  less  than  one  century — and 
whilst  a  few,  a'a^!  too  few  of  those  noble  patriots 
are  still  lingering  i,mong  us — we  arc  prepared  to 
mirrender  to  the  same  haughty  power,  a  portion  of 
the  glorious  legacy  achieved  by  their  \-alor,  for  fear 
wc  may  be  startled  by  the  sound  of  their  war-trump, 
or  the  rattle  of  their  artillery  .-    Forbid  it,  Heaven ! 

(Gentlemen  have  argued  this  is  a  western  ques- 
lion.  It  is  a  national  (juestion.  Every  portion  and 
section  of  this  country  is  inteifsted,  and  deeply  in- 
terested, in  the  possession  and  occupation  of  Ore- 
gon. Yet,  on  account  of  its  locality,  western  gen- 
Semen  have  frequently  been  appealed  to  in  relation 
to  it,  and  western  feeling  inquired  after.  If  the 
West  is  to  be  consulted  as  to  the  settlement  of  Ore- 
gon— and  1  believe  they  ought — 1  declare  it  to  be 
my  firm  belief  that  in  that  vast  md  mighty  valley, 
not  one  man  in  twenty  willcvor  consent  to  surren- 
der one  inch  of  what  they  beiicvc  riglilfully  to  be- 


I 


long  to  the  United  St  iteb     They   will  neither  ftjBe  '^ut  a 
render  it  for  fear  of  a  war,  nor  &sll  it  for  a  pecuniaijitpariaonl 
consideration.     All  the  bayonets  of  England  caiipift  to  dead! 
win,  nor  all  the  gold  of  Peru  purchase  it.  «^nded   n 

But  the  gentleman  from  Alabama  [Mr  Y'anc  K^^ng,  orpj 
admonishes  us  to  wait  until  we  are  prepared  for  t:^(«  arc  fJ 
strife,  as  though  strife  must  necessarily  follow  oio^t  cases,! 
action.  He  fays,  and  says  truly,  that  when  tj^d  immcJ 
western  people  are  once  aroused  for  the  struggle,  It  ia  to  bi 
need.s  no  prophet  to  predict  the  result;  and  seemi.i  d  our  pol 
to  believe  me  as  one  of  the  spirits  he  described  i  iis  it  to  al 
panting  for  war,  said,  in  compliment,  that  I,  M  ,  which  il 
Chairman,  with  rifle  in  hand,  would  lead  to  tt  the  revoj 
deadly  breath.  Why,  sir,  he  has  wholly  mislakt  that  sped 
my  character;  I  am  a  "man  ol  peace;"  I  beloi  jmitted  tJ 
to  that  anciertt,  war-hating  and  peace-loving  peofi  Idren  inl 
called  lluakers,  who  detest  war  in  all  its  forms.  IJ  la  of  aBrI 
notwithstanding  the  prejudices  that  my  educatic  mpare  thd 
necessarily  engendered,  I  have  \  ?t  to  learn  th;it  c  call  on^ 
can  surrender  any  portion  of  the  inheritance  left  b  set  him 
the  fathers  of  the  republic  without  dishonor;  ar  mor — whi 
1  hope  1  am  not  )»rep«red  for  that.  iients  lefil 

Some  of  our  friends  of  the  Siuth  who  prefcss  MofHict,  anl 
be  for  Oregon,  say  to  us  of  the  West,  "the  conn  dow  and  I 
you  are  )tursning  will  lose    you  Oregon,  and  we  g  ciiin'a  bio 
against  the  resolution  giving  the   notice   to  save  ti,    ither  figh 
country  for  you."     1  feel  under  great  obligations  t   lerehev 
them  for  then-  kindness;  but  will  they  be  so  goo(   jhts  is  be 
in  this  matter  at  least,  as  to   let  us  of  the  West  d(    Most  of 
termine  for  ourselves  \k  hat  our  best  policy  is,  an    y   thatlh 
to  pursue  it.'    J  recollect  on  a  former  occasion,  whe  it  thatj|il 
there  was  another  question  before  this  body — not    ;aceably. 
question   of  extending  our   laws  over  and   takin  ttr.e.     Let 
possession  of  our  own  soil,  but  whether  we  shoul   )  discussi 
admit  into  the  circle  of  our  glorious  I'nion  a  frf  ut  encout 
and  gallant  people,  wFio,  like  ourfathers,  had  achieve   rcgon.  ar 
their  freedom   in   the  fiercest  contests,  and  at  t. 
point  of  the  bayonet — then   our  Southern  brethre 
said,  "this  is  the  go/JMi  moment,'"  and    this   is   tr 
approved    mode.      It  a   northern  or  western   ma 
presumed  to  question  the  mode,  or  object  to  she  tiniel 
lie  was  denounced  as  recreant  to  the  best  interests  o' 
his  country,  and  suspected  of  .-secret  hostility  to  tl' 
measure.     I  then  thought  this  language  unkind  ancL 
the  suspicion  unjust  to  long-tried  and  faithful  fru?nd.vilo.'ial  dislu 
and  therefore  will  not  repeat  or  apply  them  here  tilupiicity 
our  brethren  of  the  South.     We   went  with   t.heiif ught  to  hi 
then,  and,  I  might  almo.st  say,   we    .vent   it  blind,  hat  we  in( 
That  great  measure  is  now  consummated;  our  uniot,  'ghts  ther 
is  complete  and  glorious;  and  it  now  ren\ains  to   bii  erritory  8 
seen  wliether  our   friends,  who   then    led  the    wa)  >een  giveii 
with  a  '/.eal  deserving  of  a  noble  cause,  and  an   en ;  M  honor 
ergy  that  knew  no   abatement,  wi'l  at  Ik'n  time  play  epublican 
us  false,  and  turn  us  off  with  the  traitor's  sneer.     I    c*H*n  to  le 
so,  I  shall  not  reproach   them;  they   no   doubt  dtyhe  givin 
what  they  think  their  duty.     But  this  much*  I  wil  It  may  br 
tell  them,  that  their  hesitation  and  opposition  wiil)<*S*'"' 
not  deter  us  from  discharging  our  duty  to  our  con^  t*]  pre" 
stituents  and  to  our  country.     We  will  enter  tiu'  <  lists  wdl 
breach  alone,  and   should  all  but  the  West  hang' i*l  "^urcii 
back,  she  alone  would  feel  competent  to  meet  and;  ect  tnem 
overcome  every  emergency;  and  in  peace  they  wil  .  Jierciless 
not  rest  until  no  Hag  but  our  own  glorious  stars  and  fp"  f^^^^  ^ 
stripe^)  shall  wave  over  everv  inch  of  th3  Americai  #taia  the 
soil.  Protect  tl 

Some  one,  I  believe  it  wa.i  the  gentleman  fro.i  -l^no*'  5>o' 
South  Carolina,  m  speaking  of  the  calamities  d  >»ome  of 
war,  and  the  only  causes  that  would  justify  a  natior  jjfamdjr  h 
i'  appealing  to  that  dread  tribui.al,  said,  thai  wound- 1*'"*'^  '°n 
ed  honor  w-buld  alone  justify  a  resort  to  anr.s,  ar.l  Jt'irough 
compared  it  to  the  once  common,  but  now  disgrace-  k^^itivatfi 
ful,  resort  to  orms  i>etweer>>  private   ii;d;Yidu«ia  to  V'>^  ^'^^''l, 


hold  forn 
J  intend 
uch  like  s 
vantage  c 
r  war.  I 
ill  allow  1 
r,!  prehen 
feel  that 


y  y/ill  neither  fijBe  out  a  atirin  from  wounded  honor.  I  Uiink  the 
"  fora  pecunin>j|»pari8on  a  bad  one.  Duelling  is  at  best  buta  re- 
3  of  E»g:land  canmft  to  deadly  conflict,  to  gratify  personal  vanity  or 
'cnaae  it.  ^  <^nded  pride;  there  is  nothing  national,  noble, 
ima  [Mr  YANCK^ng,  or  patriotic  about  it;  its  very  nature  or  ele- 
tre  prepared  for  i.tt\i»  arc  false  pride  and  base  selfishness.  War  in 
essurily  follow  oiobi  cases,  when  justifiable,  is  not  to  secure  a  great 

Illy,   til        ■         ■ 

for  the  struggle, 
result;  and  seeriij 
's  he  described 
iment,  that  I,  M, 
would  lead  to  tl 
IS  wholly  mistak 
peace;"  I   faeio 


y,    that  when  tij^d  immediately  but  remotely. 

t  is  to  break  the  shackles  which  otherwise  might 
d  our  posterity  in  chains  too  strung  to  be  broken. 
iS  it  to  avoid  the  payment  of  a  two-penny  tax  on 
which  induced  our  fathers  to  unHheath  the  sword 
the  revolution.'  Or  was  it  not  rather  a  resistance 
that  species  of  legislation  and  policy,  which,  if 
bmitted  to,  would Imve  made  themselves  and  their 
eace-loving  peop  ildren  instruments  of  British  tyranny,  and  pup- 
I  all  it.s  forms,  il  ta  of  a  British  j?arliameni?  And  can  any  sane  man 
hat  my  educutic  tnpare  that  noble  appeal  to  the  God  of  battles,  to 
>  ?t  to  learnth.it  >  call  one  individual  may  make  upon  another  to 
inheritance  left  h  fet  him  upon  what  is  called  by  some  the  field  of 
out  dishonor;  ar.  nor — where,  in  too  many  instances,  the  only  mon- 
[lents  left  to  to  mark  the  spot  of  the  barbarous 
nth  who  prefe-ss  :|  n3ict,  and  to  tell  of  the  wrong.s  inflicted  upon  the 
West,  "the  coiiri  dow  and  the  orphan,  is  the  soil  'vhich  drank  the 
Vegon,  and  we  ej:iiin'a  blood?  Sir^  I  live  in  a  country  where  they 
ither  fight  duels,  nor  sacrifice  national  rights;  but 
lerehe  who  falld  in  the  defence  of  his  country's 
ht3  is  believed  to  slumber  in  the  patriot'.s  grave. 
Most  of  those  who  go  against  these  resolutions, 
y  tliat  they  do  not  design  to  surrender  Oregon, 
t  lhatj[ihey  only  wish  to  settle  the  question 
aceably.  ''Masterly  iractivity"  is  the  cry  of 
n;e.  Let  the  convention  or  treaty  stand—  have 
discussion,  and  make  no  question  about  it  noio; 
;  encourage  emigation,  push  your  settlers  into 
rcgon,  and  when  you  have  strength  enough  there 
hold  forcible  po£.session,  then  let  it  be  known  that 
J  intend  to  assert  your  right.'!.  This  to  me  seems 
uch  like  stealing  into  your  own  territory,  taking 
vantage  of  ap»-,-/cnceof  peace  to  fortify  yourselves 
i- war.  If  this  view  of  the  subject  be  iight,  you 
ill  allow  me  to  say,  thatalthoujjli  I  may  not  exactly 
n.iprehend  what  is  meant  by  national  honor,  yet 
feel  that  such  a  policy  would  bring  upon  us  na- 
o.'!al  dishonor,  atiu  subject  us  to  the  charge  of  base 
iipucity.     If  we  believe   that  Oregon  is  ou's,  we 


notice   to  save  t 
;reat  obligations 
they  be   so  gooi 
!  of  the  West   d 
est  policy  is,  am 
ler  occasion,  uhei 
this  body— not 
over  and    takinj 
hether  we  shou 
ious  l.'nion  a  fn 
hers,  had  achi.evei 
tests,  and  at  th 
Southern  brethren 

and  this  is  tr 
or  western  ma 
'bjpct  to  ihe  tip.iel 

best  interest.'^  o' 
et  hostility  to  tl' 
iiage  unkind  a.M 
i  faithful  fru?f:d.'J 
ly  them  here  r( 


vent  with  then-  i^glit  to  have  courage  enough  to  tell  England  so;  and 
■icnt  it  bli.id.  hat  we  intended  and  were  prepared  to  maintain  our 
natcd;  our  iinioi,  Jght3  there  by  immediate  occupancy  of  the  whole 
■  remains  to  b.i  erritory  after  the  twelve  montlis'  notice  shall  have 
n  led  the  waj  leen  giveo.  We  ov/e  it  to  ourselves,  we  owe  it  to 
ise,  and  an  en  iie  honor  of  our  country,  t<>  tell  England  in  plain 
it  tl»i.^  time  pja)  epiiblican  terms  what  we  intend  to  do.  1  would 
iitor'.s  sneer.  I  ictM-n  to  lake  cnir  own  by  r.tealth,  or  their's  by  force, 
no  doubt  dc  The  giving  this  notice  is  further  objected  to  for  fear 
lis  muchf  I  will  trnay  bring  dire  calamities  upon  our  citizens  in 
opposition  wiii  )regon.  The  gentleman  from  Virginia  fiMr.  Hun- 
uty  to  our  con  ,  er]  predicts,  that  the  effect  of  a  war  (which  he  in- 
e  will  enter  tiw  '  itat3  will  follow  the  giving  this  notice)  will  be  to  put 
he  West  hang!  iH  our  citizens  in  that  territory  to  the  sword,  or  sub- 
nt  to  meet  and;  ect  them  to  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife  of  the 
peac«  they  wd  .  wercilese  Indian.  Let  that  gentleman  calm  his  fears 
rious  stars  and  |pn  tJiat  subject;  that  people  will  never  ask  you  to 
tha  Americai  -ftaia  the  escutchion  of  this  government  in  order  to 
n-otcct  them  from  either  red  coal  or  red  skin.  I 
entlemao  fro.i  i^now  some  of  the  people  of  thatfar-olT territory;  with 
B  calamities  cf  ?»otne  of  them  I  have  warmed  my  feet  at  the  same 
justify  a  naiior  .fJimily  hearth;  with  them  I  learned  my  letters  in  the 
id,  that  wound-  I^Ji^'C  «og  school  house,  and  with  them  have  I  passed 
t  to  anr.s,  an  )  |through  scenes  of  hardi^hip  and  suffering  in  the  un- 
now  disgrace- »-itivatcd  wilds  of  the  West,  that  have  fitted  them 
ii;d;vidu«Ia  to  |^'>f  every  enterprise  however  hazardous,  and  every 


danger  however  threatening.  They  went  to  Oregon 
with  their  eyes  open;  and  all  ihay  ask  of  youii,  t* 
untie  the  fetters  which  this  treaty  of  joint  oceuptto- 
cy  has  thrown  around  their  manly  limUt.  Tha  k 
all  they  avk  ut  your  hands;  and  should  they  fall  in 
asserting  our  right  to  the  i<)Ao/e  of  Oregon,  they  wiU 
sink,  covered  with  honorable  scars,  a  rich  legacy  to 
their  sons  who  will  arise  to  avenge  their  father*:* 
wrongs. 

1  have  been  pained  to  hear,  during  this  debatr,  al 
lusion  made  to  the  western  peofde  as  a  war-lnvine 
and  peace-hating  people,  who  delight  in  blood  ana 
carnage,  and  who  were  aii.\ious  by  their  courae  to 
embroil  this  country  in  a  war.  Who  are  those  mot 
thus  unkindly  alluded  to  and  unjustly  assailed? 
They  are  sons  of  revolutionary  sires,  and  spirits  of 
noble  daring,  who  have  cleared  the  way  for  you  into 
the  heart  of  this  magnificent  empire.  They  have 
gone  before  you  like  the  pillar  of  cloud  by  day  and 
of  fire  I'y  night,  rolling  back  the  Indian  of  the  for- 
est to  give  passage  to  civilization,  as  the  waters  of 
the  Red  sea  were  rolled  back  by  the  Great  Jehovah 
to  give  pa.-isa^e  to  the  children  of  Israel ;  and  how- 
ever scornfully  you  may  treat  them,  or  whatever  es- 
timate you  may  place  upon  them,  I  verily  believe 
they  are  as  pure  and  patriotic  as  the  citizens  of  any 
other  portion  of  this  Union.  While  they  are  on  the 
frontiers,  where  their  instincts  and  duty  lead  them, 
upon  the  very  soil  designed  by  Providence  as  their 
inheritance,  they  will  remain  in  peace  and  quiei, 
giving  you  uo  trouble,  and  making  no  unnecessary 
demands  upon  your  government.  But  I  warn  you 
from  the  consequences  of  an  effort  to  stop  their  on- 
ward progress.  Do  not  let  the  British  get  posse-a- 
sion  of  Oregon,  and  block  up  the  passes  of  the 
Rocky  mountains  against  their  western  flight. 
Should  you  do  it,  and  thereby  turn  back  into  the 
valley  of  the  Great  vVest  tho&e  whose  disposition 
and  choice  it  is  to  mingle  in  border  scenes  of  hard- 
ship and  suffering,  you  may  introduce  into  our  so- 
ciety an  element  that  may  tumble  it  into  ruins,  as 
did  Samson  the  teiTiple  of  Dagon  when  he  seixedits 
pillars  at  the  city  of  Gaza. 

What  is  .our  exact  position  in  relation  to  this  mat- 
ter? The  President,  during  last  summer,  made  a 
proposition  to  Great  Britain  to  divide  the  Oregon 
territory  on  the  49th  parallel  of  latitude.  This  offer 
was  rejected  by  the  British  minister  without  a  refer- 
ence to  his  government,  and  was  as  prrtmplly  with- 
drawn by  the  Executive,  who  now  frankly  telU  us, 
that,  in  his  opinion,  no  offer  of  comproraiae  that 
this  government  ought  to  accept,  will  be  made  by 
England;  and,  therefore,  this  notice,  in  his  opinioa, 
ought  to  be  given.  I  am  not  disposed  to  censure 
the  President  for  having  made  this  proposition,  sur- 
rounded as  he  was  by  many  difli:uities  and  embar- 
rassments, growing  out  of  former  negotiations,  and 
the  position  in  which  he  found  the  question  when  he- 
came  into  office;  but  I  am  free  to  say,  that  1  con- 
gratulate him,  not  only  for  his  own  sake,  but  for 
that  of  the  country,  that  his  offer  was  rejecred.  And 
I  think  I  may  venture  to  predict,  that  such  an  offer 
will  not  again  be  made;  and  certain  1  am  that,  stta- 
ated  as  we  now  are,  the  country  wdl  not  sustain  any 
executive  or  administration  in  repeating  it.  No  obsta- 
cle can  now  be  thrown  in  the  way  to  prevent  our 
holding  the  territory  uy  (o  54°  40\  unless  her  Ma- 
jesty's government  should  disavow  the  action  of  ber 
minister,  and  now  propose  to  accept  the  Presideu  * 
offer.  This  (  think  will  not  be  done;  if  not,  we  aie 
at  length  clear  of  the  shackles  which  previoiis  or- 
'  gotiationa  liave  flimg  around  us,  and  free  to  txttzimt. 


bur  exclnsive  ri^'hts  to  the  whole  of  Oregon.  But 
•^ijppoflc  we  npg'ect  to  carry  out  the  rcnommenda- 
tioirof  the  President,  and  refuse  to  "ive  the  notice: 
Mi'tU  it  not  be  nn  intimntion  to  the  British  govern- 
ment and  to  the  world,  that  Conjjrnns  doe';  not  con- 
nir  wfth  the  executive  hranch  of  the  government,  an 
to  tlie  cloiirnoss  of  our  title  to  that  territory — or  yel, 
n  still  more   humMiuiiny;  nclniovvlcdsimenf,  that  we 


I 


terali»m   will  grow  on    the  ruins  of  State-rigl^j.^  ^^^^  , 
Mr.  Chairman,  I  nm  a  democrat,  and  as  the  saySre  (1,;^  q 
is,  dyed  in  the  wool;  I  have  alwRys  to  the  utmost?  ^^^jp, 
my  ability  opposed  centrdlinm,  banks,  funded  del 
and  protective  tarifi'i;  indeed  it  has  been  a  comn 
remark,  that  I  was  so  radical,  that  it  placed   mf. 
TRiUury  in  advance   of  my  own  parly.     But,  Iv 
known  that  1  am   not  the  man  to  maintain  my  poi 
<lo  not  feel  ourselves  able  id  vindicate  onr  righis   i<*al  party  in  the  management  of  internal  affuirs,      tj^ther 
thereto?  I  the  surrender  of  external  rights.    And  I  now  dec!:    ^  ^^^ 

"What  do  centlemen  promi.sc  tlirmsnlves  from  fur-  \  in  the  presence  of  this  House,  and  in  the  face  oft    „g  g|^j 

world,  that  if  it  be  necessary  to  the  maintenance  i^  the  y 
onr  national  rights,  and  country's  honor,  that  i;  ghgdow 
political  opponents  take  the  reins  of  g;overnmen;  ,jj  head 
am  this  day  willing  to  make  to  them  the  surrender    ^Q^  ^ 


Ihtt  nesjoliations,  whilst  this  joint  occupancy  lust 
Qf*at  Britain  is  now  in  po.sseHsiori  of  all  she  ever 
daimed,  and  while  this  treaty  lu--t.^,  I  assme  gen- 
tlemen ehe  will  never  settle  this  qiic;!lion,  for  the 
very  good  nisaon,  that  her  condition  can  never  he 
beltlcr,  but  may  be,  and  unquestionably  would  be, 
worse.   It  would,  therefore,  be  an  ;ict  of  folly  on  her 

Cart  to  allow  it  to  be  changed  so  lonij  ns  she  could 
.  eep  ilin  stain  ijuo.  Give  this  notice— abrogate  this 
treaty — and  then  she  will  see  and  feel  the  necessity  of 
Jmmedictte  and  eflfectual  negotiation;  till  that  is  done, 
5^our  negoiiationiiwili  be  all  twaddle.  The  gentleman 
froni  Houih  Carolina,  [Mr.  Riiett,]  for  the  purpose, 
as  I  tiiDughf,  of  frightening  ns  from  the  performance 
of  what  we  honestly  believed  to  be  onrduiy.  has  in- 
titifiated  (he  probability  of  a  combination  oil  the  fwrt 
of  the  nionarchs  of  the  (^Id  World  Ic  ortiflh  ns  as 
jiropagandisls.  On  this  subject,  1  want  him,  as 
well  m  fill  olherK  who  do  nie  llic  honor  to  li.^ten 
to  my  reniark.s,  to  und';ist;ind  v/hat  I  iliink  to  lie 
the  duty  of  this  gnvcrnnifui  in  relation  to  this  mai- 
ler. 1  hold  it  to  he  the  Ijonndcn  duty  of  the  gov- 
ernmRnt  ofllie  United  Siatcn,  from  the  [icrrormnnce 
■of'which  she  cannot  shrink  without  di.stionor,  to 
wee'that  her  iii.siitulioiia  nr<!  .set  up  and  maintained 
■wilhhi  her  entire  limits;  here  her  du'.v  ends;  but 
hUded  to  this,  she  has  n  privilege,  frnai  tho  enjoy- 
inenc  of  whicli  no  governni'-nt  or  combination  of 
gnvernineiiiB(uin  or  shall  "  li-^r— that  i^,  when 

any  contiguous  nation   w  'O  unite  iicr  destiny 

Avithours,und  become  on.  con^tpIljuior'sifit't'iOK 

Slates,  we  will  pud  nj)  il)e  laich-.stnng  and  let  her 
«oi»>«i  in,  UJ  share  witli  xw.  in  all  the  piivilcger^and 
immuiiitiesofr.nr  ..'loii.MiJ?  confcdenicv.  Wc  claim 
ao  rii;;:!!  to  fn-ce  wiilijn  oar  ei;i'!o  any  ".nr.! 
do  notdfsirc  to  sit  ;.f  our  fivinily  hoi^rr!: 
claim,  and  will'cxerciae,  the  riglit 
vxii-^paity;   i'lid    tlnii  i'i;'!it    we    .,, 


believing,  as  I  from  my  soul  do   believe,  that 


everything  that  j)ertains  lo  the  honor  of  our  cou  fg  « 

try,  tlieyiu"ea.s  patriotic  as  we    are,  and  that  o  onJe  genii 

differences  as  to  administrative  measures  grow  o  inyofnl 

of  honest  differences  of  opinion,  as  to  what  will  b^  ^idence  I 

promote  our  country's  weal.     But  I   utterly  repui  ,jg  ^ere 


remBinil 

e  that  al 

no  cnl 

her  dl 

owes  th| 

to  the 


>are  to 


ate  the  gentleman's  argument;  it   is  false   in  theor 
and  equally  false  in  fact.     Democracy  can  grow,  ai 
has  grown,  whilst  the  storm  of  war  raged  in  all 
fury;  the  seeds  of  democracy  were  cast  into  the  ear] 
by  the  hand  of  the  rcolution;  it  was  cradled  in  if 
storms,  and  nursed  in  its  fiercest conllicts;  thereat 
then  was  the  tree  of  liberty  planted;  and  llietempes] 
of  war  only  loo.'^ened  the  earth  about  its  roots,  th 
it  mi<;ht  grow  the  faster  and  spread   the  wider;  i 
roots  have  been  plentifully  moistened    by  the  war: 
life's  blood  of  those  who  ilefendel  it  against  the  fui 
OMS  assaults  of  the  wild  boar  of  legitimacy,  seekir 
to  whet  his  tusks  again.st    its  inner   bark.     And 
now  tell  gentlemen,  I  hat  if  it  is   occasionally  tnoii 
ened  by  the  blood  of  the  patriot,  honestly  shed  in  it 
defente,  it  will  not  grow  a  whit  the  worse,  nor  en! 
a  leaf  on    that    accoimt.     Has   not   the  West,  tl^ 
whole  of  that  beautiful   inland    paradise   resound' 
with  the  clank   of  arms,  and  has    not  its  soil,  an 


Idful  of 
n  small 
is  of  the 
is  short 
need  b] 
ontinen 
I,  followi 
from  h 
en  clout 
along  tl 
his  last 
to  be  via 
in  this? 
hen  he  f 
?    The 
or  infic 
is  said  ] 
territory 
It  mistak 
into  y/i 


liiit  w"  do 
>  choose  ruf  own 
1   lolinijiiish  only 

naiional   exi,'>;c;ifc.     AVe  iJn  not  wish,  as 

,   to   extend    onr    bonlers 


^^;ith  our 

Uom'e  dnl 

«rins,  bnl   choose  rather   tlie^rnle  of  ri>cht  than  of 

»night.   In  t!ie  end  stich  ;•  policy  will  be  set  m  to  have 


every  furlong  thereof,  been  stained  with  the  blood 

the  pioneer  and   Indian  commingling  as   ihi  y  fel!  i^i^  ^\^^  -yy, 

deadly  strife?    Will  any  man   tell   me  that   libertjij^f  jjg  j, 

in  it.^  niofit  comely  and   nnobtru.sive  form,  does  nij-j  y^mj^ 

(lourisii  there?    Sir,  it  is  the  very  ji!a.:e   where  ~ 

mi  y  be   truly  said,  we  have  liberty    without  lice 

tiou>Jiiess',  and  order  in  the  ahsunee  of  law. 

W^e  have  again   and   again,  in   the  course  of  tli: 
debate,  been  reminded  of  the  power   and  sfreatncf 


of  the  government  with  which  wcare  likely  to  con. 

ly  the  forc<;  ofj  in  conflict.     I  do  not  de.nre  to  speak  harshly  of  thj 

IJritish   government;    but   I    despi.se   this   con;5ta;i| 

^  vHtmting  of  the  greatness  of  England.     Who,  an^ 

been  wise;  for  as  Rome  expanded,  acquiring  one  what  is  s+ie?  The  seal  of  her  power  is  situated  oi, 
possession  af"ier  another  by  confincn?,  she  w.i.-i  ob-  a  little  island  stuck  down  in  the  North  sea.  Trut 
1i|^   to  maintain   herself  by   rapire  and  jilunder   -she  has  spread  her  arms  like   seas,  to  grasp  in  alj 

the  shores;  but  still  she  is  not  so  terrible  as  to  mak^ 
the  nations  tremble.  All  of  her  greatness  now  de^ 
pends  upon  her  commerce.  Clip  her  wings  of  that 
and,  like  the  bird  of  Jove,  she  falls  to  the  earth 


to  maintain  _,.. 

wwrever  she  could  carry  her  arni.'^;  and  the  conse- 
<iuence  was,  that  when  she  CQuld    no  longer  retain  ! 
I&e  possessions  she    had  acquired    by    force    by  I 
tbe  same  means  she  used    in  their  acquisition,   she! 


feH.     We,  on   the  contrarv,  accept  only  t!io,^o  who  l  lifeless   carcass 
come  voluntarily,  and  froni  choice.  And  tho.se  v.'ho  "   " 

desire  admission  into  ourconfede'     y  need  no  force 
to  remin  them  there.     Each  additional  Htatp,  adniit- 
-ted  under  such  circnmstanccs,  add.^  another 
«nd   permanent  pillar  for  the  dtfence    and 


I 


ne.w 
orna- 


ment of  the  tenif)le  <if  liberiy. 

Anothei^new,  and  to  mc  n  very  strange  uri:ument. 
against  these  resolutions  is,  that'if  we,1>y  os^serting 
«ur  rights  to  Oregon,  are  unfonnnatel;,'  plunged  into 
^  war,  ll:e  consequence  would  be,  n  "deprcpsion  of 
democratic,  and  a:  ri.se  of  federa'  principier.;  iha-  -en 


seek  no  conflict  between  my« 
country  and  Great  Britain.  Let  each  pursue  heil 
path  alone,  and  unmolested  by  the  other.  We  wili 
not  go  out  of  our  way  to  attack  the  British  lion;  bii} 
if  he  chooses  to  lay  liimself  across  our  path,  and  re^ 
fu.ses  to  remove  at  a  peaceful  summons,  then  there 


will  be  no  alternative — the  American  eagle  will 
strike  her  talons  into  his  nostrils,  and  you  will  seej 
his  blood  spout  as  though  a  whale  hiid  been  hari 
pooned. 

There  is,  1  repeat,  no  occasion  for  war;  and  thcrei 
will  be  noacj  unles.^  the  government  of  Great  Britairi 


mencing 

rty  years 

ad  of  tv 

ity-two. 

ication  ta 

on  by  til 

you  find 

ion  oft) 

faces  tl 

ho!"  it 

this  sii 

up  the  I 

snows  ai 

ch  it  tak 

jon,  are 

ire  to  dc 

-God 

pys,  brl 

our  illi 

in  it  b< 

South 

rer  of  a 

list  us? 

Inholy  s 

rowth 

other 

uttitude 

It.  it  mu 


■=»* 


.    T 


ays  to  the  mmos 
)unk8,  funded  del 
lan  been  a  comii 
lat  it  placed  nif 
n  party.  But,  Ix 
I  maintoin  my  pui 
f  internal  afiuirB, 
And  1  now  dec!; 


Hi 

ia 

racy  can  <?row,  ai] 
'ar  raj^ed  in  al! 
e  cast  into  the  eari 
i  was  cradled  in  i| 
conllicts;  there  aii 
!il,  and  tlietempesi 
ibout  its  roots,  tJi 
cad  the  wider; 
iined  by  the  war 
I  it  against  the  iurj 
egitiinac.y,  seekii 
her  haik.  And 
accasionally  inoi< 
lonestly  shed  in  ii 
ho  worse,  nor  <■ 
lot  the  Weat,  tli 
aradisc  resound' 
nnt  its  soil,  ai 
i  wiih  the  blood  f] 
ing  as   they  fell 


l"!«H'-f!^- '■■'"'<«  w«r  with  thi«  country.  If  nhe  doea.uhe  may 
.«.  r«  fk-  .*^*^!»«  <l''«  que«tion  the  pretext.  Whether  «he  wants 
remains  to  be  !<een.  If  it  ia  the  design  of  Provi- 
e  that  she  shall  decline,  as  she  arose,  by  de- 
no  conflict  will  come.  If,  on  the  other  hand, 
her  destiny  to  pay  in  blood  the  debt  of  blood 
'owes  (he  world,  then  I  have  no  objection  to  be- 
to  the  nation  and  to  live  in  the  iige  that  nhall 
lise  her  for  the  evils  she  has  inflicted  on  the  hu- 
n.i ;«  #1,  (•  e  I  ™<*'  She  is  old  and  worn  within;  the  blood 
T.  Jo;  .  '    <«•  ««»'«•  hef  "'«•'»«•    If  ehe  is  mad  enough  to 

's  bono      iT'T     *  '*""  y"""P  S'*"*  °^  ''"^  western  world,  whose 
s  of  ffov'  ,'   shadow  is  already  beginning  to  eclipse  her  glory, 

,««,  .i5    ''"'"'""^"'    ler  head  be  the  consequences;  and  let  those  who 
In  il  L   "Tu        lot  engaged  in  the  conflict  stand  from  under,  and 

mnn.  if   '  '««  10  hear  a  crash  "tis  if  the  ribs  of  nature 

lonor  of  our  cou    j.  n 

2    are,  and  that  o  ome  gentlemen  scoflTat  what  has  been  called  the 
measures  grow  o   liny  of  nations-or  what  is  the   same  thing,  the 

uTtc"l  '^'•'«"<=*  °*   ^^    '"  theaflTttirs   of  men.    Sir. 

r]y  repui   ^^^  ^^^   ^^    ^^^    centuries  ago?    We   were  a 

lalse   in  iheor^jf,,,  ^f  nWgrmn  landing  upon  Plymouth  rock, 

a  small  band  of  cavaliers  planted  on  the  sunny 

IS  of  the  South.    From  this  small  beginning,  and 

is  short  time,  what  have  we  become?   We  have 

need  by  steady  and  peaceful  strides,  covering 

ontinent  with  independent  and  industrious  citi- 

,  following  up  the  red  man  foot  by  foot,  driving 

from   haunt-  to  haunt,   until,  like  a  small  and 

en  cloud  that  skirts  the  far-off*  horizon,  he  now 

along  the  shores  of  the  western  ocean,  ready  to 

his  last  plunge,  and  leave  the  graves  of  his  fath- 

to  be  visited  no  more  forever.    Is  there  no  des- 

in  this?    Is  not  the  finger  of  God  as  plainly  seen 

hen  he  first  set  in  the  heavens  the  star  of  Beth- 

?    The  man    who  sees  it  not  must  be  either 

or  infidel. 

is  said  by  some  that  we  do  not  need  the  Ore- 
territory  for  purposes  of  settlement.    This  is  a 
mistake;  and    that  you   may  clearly  see  the 
into  which  some  have  fallen,  I  invite  you  to 
ri    iti     'n       "^  '^*  West,  and  visit  one  of  our  log  cabins,  and 
r.ic  in.it  11"!  r!;ig|ber  its  inmates.    There  you  will  see  a  strong, 
V  ,,'^'"'"'     p">pt  youth  of  eighteen,  with  his  better  half,  just 
rtv  ^' fl  ^^l'?"'  Ifmencing  the  first  struggles  of  independent  life. 
piy   witiioiu  iictir^rty  years  from   that  time,  visit  them  again;  and 
ead  of  two.  you  will  find  in  that  same  family 
rity-two.    This  is  what  I  call  the  American  niul- 
cation  table.    Multiply  this  and  the  next  gen- 
ion  bj^  this  table,  and  where,   without  Oregon, 
you  find  room  for    our  people?    The   greater 
ion  of  this  multiplying  mass  of  humanity  have 
r  faces  turned  towards  the  setting  sun.     "West- 
d  ho !"  is  the  cry;  and  you  can   no  more  stop 
this  side  the  shores  of  the  Pacific  than  you  can 
up  the  mighty  waters  of  the  Missouri,  whilst 
nows  are  melting  on   the    Stony  mountain  in 
h  it  takes  its  rise.    Where,  I   repeat,  without 
on,  are  we  to  find  room  for  our  people?    What 
>'e  to  do  with  the  httle  white-headed  girlii  and 
God  bless  them  ! — who  throng  our  western 
ys,  bright   and    blooming  as  the  flowers  that 
our  illimitable  prairief? 

n  it  be  true,  as  suggested  by  the  gentleman 

South   Carolina,   [Mr.   Rhett,]  that  there  is 

er  of  a  combined  alliance  of  European  powers 

1st  us?    Do  they  exhibit  u  disposition   to  form 

nholy  alliance,  to  prevent  the  spread  and  cru3h 

owth  of  our  free  institutions?    I  repeat,  there 

other  danger  of  war  growing  out  of  our  prf  s- 

ttitude  upon  the  Oregon  question.      In  that 

It.  it  may  be  made  the  pretext  for  the  onslaught. 


licti 
5  of  l;iw. 
the  course  of  tli 
nir  and  greatnc 
Eire  likely  to  coir.i 
\k  har.shly  of  tlij 
ise  this  conatau, 
and.  Who,  an; 
'ei-  is  situated  oi, 
ifortli  sea.  Tnit; 
IS,  to  gra.sp  in  a! 
rrible  as  to  mak 
reatness  now  de 
icr  winffs  of  tha 
is  to  the  earth  m 
ict  between  my/ 
each  pursue  he 
other.  We  wil 
British  lion;  bn 
)ur  path,  and  r& 
aoiis,  then  ther 
rican  eagle  wilj 
ind  you  will  see 
e  haid  been  har 

»r  war;  and  therej 
of  Great  Britair- 


but  ran  never  be  the  real  «ause  of  war.  Gnj^land 
has  no  rights  iu  or  to  Oregon;  at  least,  her  dipio* 
mntista  have  failed  to  show  them,  whilst  ours  hav^ 
clrnrly  negatived  the  existence  of  any  such  ri||hl.  .. 

Let  us  take  a  Rhort  retrospect  of  the  past,  in  oi^ 
der  to  judge  correctly  of  the  future.  Liberty,,  fai'r 
ing  to  find  a  foothold  upon  the  old  continent,  took 
her  flight  to  the  New  World.  The  causes  whi^ 
produced,  utid  the  consequences  which  followed,  tne 
American  revolution,  planted  deep  irt  our  soil  the 
tree  of  liberty. 

The  formation  of  our  constitution  linked  closetjr 
together  u  chain  of  free  republican  States,  as  a  ram* 
part  around  that  tree,  to  protect  it  from  the  outward 
pres.surfl  occasioned  by  the  hostility  of  EuropcAfi 
governments  to  the  liberal  principles  which  lay  at 
the  foundation  of  our  system  of  government,  ror 
half  »  century  the  representatives  of  legitimificy 
looked  upon  this  expcria'<ent  with  great  concern,  ap4 
not  u  little  fear  of  its  consequences  upon  tlheir  oWf\ 
ill-gniten  power,  which  must  melt  under  the  gl(>Wr 
ing  light  and  scorching  ray4  of  the  sun  of  ljb<\rtv^ 
casting  back  his  bright  cfTulgence  upon  the,  Q]l<f 
World,  leaching  man  everywhere  that  God  has  giv- 
en him  rights,  and  demands  that  h^  should  ijriAin*. 
tain  them.  At  first  it  was  hoped  that  this  exp«ri« 
ment  would  prove  a  failure;  that  rivalry  and  heart- 
burnings would  grow  up  Itetween  the  North  and  thfi 
South,  the  East  and  the  West,  which  would  fijiatiy' 
burst  the  bands  of  union,  throwiiig  the  country  into 
anarchy  and  confusion.  Thank  God,  time  has  dia> 
sipated  this  hope;  the  last  twenty  years  has  C0i^^ 
vinced  the  world  that  our  institutions  are  as  filabi* 
as  time,  and  as  firm  as  the  decrees  of  destiny.  ,  No: 
sooner  are  the  govennnenis  of  Europe  conTince4  of 
the  stability  of  our  institutions,  than  tbey  ares^r.' 
tied  by  the  exhibition  of  our  prinpipte  of  expaQ*; 
&ion,  by  the  admission  of  a  free  republic  into  t|i6 
American  Union.  This,  to  them,  was  the  passi^Q 
of  the  Rubicon;  it  was  the  beginning  of  what  w^ll 
end  in  placing  under  the  protection  of  the.  broft^ 
pillions  of  the  American  eagle  the  entire  coniin^nlL, 
stretching  from  Cape  Horn  to  Behring^s  s^traits,  and. 
from  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic  to  the  waves  of  the 
Pacific. 

This  is  what  my  friend  from  Illinois,  [Mr.  Ba- 
KKR,]  who  I  hail  as  a  worthy  representative  of 
western  whigs,  calls  our  "manifestdestiny;"  and  with 
him  I  say,  if  the  representatives  of  legitimacy  in 
the  Old  World,  for  the  purpose  of  prevent  ing  its 
consummation,  choose  to  put  themselves  in  mttle 
array,  either  singly  or  collectively,  let  them  do  it, 
and  upon  their  heads  be  the  eonsequences.  We 
cannot,  we  will  not  recede.  We  neither  seek  for, 
nor  will  we  avoid  the  conflict;  if  it  comes,  we  wilt 
enter  the  arena  strong  in  the  assurance  of  a  good 
cau.se,  firmly  relying  upon  the  providence  of  God, 
which  has  thus  far  stood  by  and  protected  us  in  our 
onward  march!  Know^ing  that,  as  heretofore,  each 
crisis  in  the  alTairs  of  nations  has  produced  men 
equal  to  the  occasion,  so  hereafter  in  every  emer- 
gency, brave  spirits  will  be  found  capable  of  "riding 
the  whirlwind  and  directing  the  storm." 

And  why.  p.f^er  nil,  should  we  so  much  dread  thia 
conHicL'  Deatli  in  some  form  or  other  ia  the  destiny 
of  all  of  Adam's  race;  life  at  longest  is  but  • 
span;  this  generation  is  but  dust  on  the  wheel  of 
time.  What  boots  it,  then,  whether  we  are  shaken 
from  it  till  instant  sooner  or  later?  Ay;  and  who, 
of  all  that  now  hear  me,  would  not  rather,  when 
the  clangor  o^  Gabriel's  trump  sholl  summon  the 
pale  milli>;;s  of  the  dead  to  the  congregation  vf 


STi 


>.  appMr  in  that  vait  uMmbly  elothad  whli 
bloom  of  youth,  beurinf  upon  your  (Voqt  tke 
<lit(^<faah  received  in  defence  of  your  eoontrvHi 
hflMMi'  and  the  rifhte  of  men,  than  covered  with  the 
Ijirillhklea  of  dhihonored  age? 

Afiinat  the  EJnf liah  people  1  have  no  hontile  feet* 
il^oA  the  contrary,  I  love  them  for  their  aipira* 
timlli  afker  freedom,  and  I  only  reproach  them  that 
thiey  do  not  tear  away  thoae  feudal  cobwebe  which 
have  ao  Ion;  galled  their  manly  limba,  and  cast 
among  the  lumber  of  agea,  those  principles  of  legiti- 
ntaey  which  disgrace  the  country  and  age  in  which 
they  live.  But  the  English  government  is  quite 
aiiother  thing.    To  iT<y  niind   it  is  the  very  worst 

Sovtlmment  upon  earth.  It  has  some  pretence  to 
b^rty  without  any  of  its  substance.  It  tears  the 
ainew8,and  driHka  the  sweat  of  its  laboring  millions 
toAUten  a  stall-fed  aristocracy.  Our  flrst  conflict 
With  England  was  in  the  revolution,  which  ended  in 
tatting  trom  the  British  crown  thirteen  of  iu  bright- 
ijlt'Jlwels.and  wringingfrom  her  stubborn  heart  the 
'  eMltaowleagement  that  theaa  colonies  were,  and  of 
nhtoUght  to  be,  free. 

'  The  second  was  the  war  of  1812,  which  ia  called 
the  second  war  of  independence.  It  humbled  the 
pride  of  the  Britiah   navv,  and  ended  in  a  blaze  of 

8 Dry  on  the  plaina  of  New  Orleans,  by  making 
ousands  of  her  bratest  troops  bite  the  dust  in  con- 
flict with  the  raw  militia  of  the  western  States. 
The  third  and  last  conflict  is  not  yet.  No  man  can 
doubt  but  that  it  will  come.  'When  the  history  of 
tliatwar  is  written,  it  will  record  the  downfall  of  the 
British  empire.  Fall  she  must,  and  fall  she  will,  as 
lljare  as  Adam  fd\.  She  is  now  standing  in  the  twi> 
fight  6f  her  glory;  aAd  a  sharp  vision  may  easily 
diaeern,.  written  upon  her  fVont,  the  inscription 
truced  by  an  invisible  hand  upon  the  palace  wall  of 
the  Babylonish  king. 

Aa  I  aaid  before,  England's  greatness  now  rests 
upon  her  commerce.  She  has  three  hundred  mil- 
ikma  of  tonnage,  which  guages  her  shipping.  We 
kave  already  two  hundred  millions,  and  are  now 
ilUhering  upon  her  with  the  strides  of  a  swift  cour- 


ser.   When  we  pass  har.  her  downfldl  hj  pea' 
ble  means  will  be  rapid  ami  auMan. 

Orr^n  ii  therefore  all  important  in  a  eomn 
cial  point  of  view.  It  ia  the  inch  of  ground  U| 
which  we  can  place  a  fulcrum,  f  <*>nc  ua  the  k 
by  which  to  overturn  the  wond  of^Britiah  co , 
merce. '  It  will  give  ua  a  cluster  of  nwnufactui 
and  commercial  Statea  on  the  Pacific  correaoond 
with  our  New  England  Statea  upon  the  Atlaii 
Then  the  inhabitants  of  the  great  Mi«sissippi  \ 
ley,  who  have  in  their  possession  the  garden  of 
world  and  the  granary  of  the  UMverse,  will  stre 
out  one  hand  to  the  East  Indies  through  the  Pa 
chain,  the  other  to  Europe  through  the  Atle; 
channel,  granping  the  trade  of  the  ciailizad  e&i 
as  we  now  hold  in  possession  the  means  of  s 
sistence  for  the  whole  numan  faauiy. 

There  is  in  this  discussion,  to  me,  a  new  i 
very  agreeable  feature.  Thw  diaeuaaion  indica 
and  the  vote  will  prove,  that  thia  ia  no  "party  qi 
tion."  There  aita  an  aged  and  venerable  n 
[poii.  Jne  to  John  Uuincv  Abams.])  of  the  whig  p 
ty  who  lias  spoken  and  will  vote  with  us,  beca 
he  feels  it  his  duty  so  to  do.  Whatever  may 
said  of  the  hot  haste  of  my  youthful  Uood,  1 
confident  that  whilst  I  follow  the  lead  of  one  wli 
locks  are  whitened  by  the  snowa  of  eighty  wind 
I  ran  do  nothing  rashly.  On  the  other,  hand  th 
are  some  equally  respectable  friends  on  the  der 
cratie  side  of  the  House  who  think  duty  calls  lo ' 
activity,"  and  therefore  will  vote  against  Greg 
So  I  would  have  it,  that  the  world  may  know '. 
this  is  not  a  question  of  a  party  in  America,  bu 
an  American  party. 

I  have  attempted,  Mr.  Chairman,  in  my  fet 
way,  to  show  the  committee  that  duty  ««lls,  and  : 
terast  points,  to  the  aaaertion  of  our  rights  to  C 
gen.   1  cannot,  I  will  not,  doubt  but  that  the  Ho  ; 
will  reapond  affirmatively.    Thia  ia  the  war  feel 
and  the  only  war  feeling  in  the  West,     if  < : 
must  come,  let  it  come;  and  those  who-  provoi: 
will  have  to  abide  its  cooaequenceai^ 


Ml  .r'w 


■«  r.  It}, 


.w 


MOMuatMSM 


iWNini 


ftU  »f{Mli^ 


MrtMt  in  •  cot. 
inch  of  gnound  up 

'Grid  orBriliih  cc  / 
Mr  of  laanufactur 
Pacific  oorretpond  , 
m  upon  the  Atlaii   ; 
[rest  AiiMiMipiii  \ 
ion  the  garden  of 
iiMTerte,  will  atre 
a  through  the  Pa 
hrough  the  Atla,  > 
'  the  civilized  e&i 
<n  the  meana  of  s 
inaily.  ;; 

t  to  me,  a  new  i  j 
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■ -"liwiMiaiiwiii 


